"THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF REPROGRAMMING FILES TO OPTIMIZE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) OPERATION AND ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING CUSTOMER CONCERNS: ENGINE RPM FLARE (SHARP RPM INCREASE WHEN CVT DOWNSHIFTS) WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL ON UPHILL GRADES CANCELLATION OF CRUISE CONTROL AS A RESULT OF RPM FLARE (DRIVER MUST RESET DESIRED VEHICLE SPEED). THIS NEW LOGIC CHANGES THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATION TO AVOID UNEXPECTED CANCELLATION. "
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Subaru Outback cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Subaru Outback have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 9,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Outback | 4 |
| 2013 Outback | 11 |
| 2014 Outback | 10 |
| 2015 Outback | 20 |
| 2016 Outback (this page) | 15 |
| 2017 Outback | 25 |
| 2018 Outback | 17 |
| 2019 Outback | 19 |
| 2020 Outback | 5 |
2crashes
1injury
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2016 Subarus report sudden, uncontrolled acceleration without pedal input—sometimes at stop lights, in parking lots, and at highway speeds. One owner's vehicle surged forward while she braked hard enough to injure her leg; another hit a building while trying to park. One case at 35,000 miles saw RPMs spike to 5,000 at a traffic light. Most dealers cannot duplicate the problem and refuse repair. One Subaru investigator blamed a floor mat and EZ pass mount; another owner was told to document events on her own video camera.
Owners also report the adaptive cruise-control system failing to brake for stopped traffic ahead, forcing manual intervention. The EyeSight camera system generates false collision warnings in sunlight, with one occurring in a busy intersection. One owner was told by the dealer to avoid using EyeSight on sunny days—problematic in Nevada. Warning lights for EyeSight and lane-departure systems illuminate and clear without service or explanation.
A separate issue involves the transmission slipping into neutral without warning during low-speed driving, requiring manual shift to restore power. One owner reported this five times over two years. Hesitation followed by power surge after stops also appeared.
Dealers and Subaru have not issued recalls for these failures, though one dealer received a Subaru memo acknowledging that EyeSight warnings "sometimes happen" when cars overheat—despite this owner's car not being overheated. No diagnostic codes are recorded to assist troubleshooting, making diagnosis and repair difficult to impossible.
Same Subaru Outback cruise control reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected acceleration without pedal input
Vehicle accelerates suddenly while driver has foot on brake or no pedal input. RPMs surge to high levels (5,000 RPM reported in one case). Occurs at low speeds, in parking scenarios, at stop lights, and at highway speeds. Engine continues at elevated RPM despite brake application.
When: Starts at low mileage (2,300–8,800 miles reported); recurs at various points up to 38,000 miles. Can happen while parked, pulling into spaces, at traffic lights, or on highway.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden forward surge without accelerator input; Engine RPM elevation; Brake pedal depressed but vehicle accelerates; Multiple occurrences over months/years for some owners; Vehicle lurches forward with force at stop
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. Dealer investigations inconclusive. One case attributed to floor mat and EZ pass mount (Narrative #4); others remain undiagnosed. Some dealers unable to duplicate the issue and declined repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer investigated one case (Narrative #4) and blamed floor mat and EZ pass; no recall issued for this issue. Subaru of America contacted in one case stated not aware of issues. One dealership cleared diagnostic codes and advised customer to continue driving (Narrative #3).
EyeSight system false forward-collision warnings
Forward-collision warning system activates and applies brakes without obstacle present. Occurs in sunny conditions and clear road scenarios. System clears event data without recording video snapshots, hindering diagnosis.
When: Summer conditions in bright sunlight; mid-afternoon with high-angle sun exposure.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden braking in intersection; False collision warning with no visible obstruction; Occurs on sunny days; dealer suggested avoiding system use in sunlight; Loss of adaptive cruise-control functionality
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suggested customer purchase independent video camera to document events. No repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer advised disabling EyeSight on sunny days and suggested video documentation by owner. No recall or TSB cited.
EyeSight system warning light and sensor malfunction
EyeSight technology warning, lane-departure warning, and front-collision warning lights illuminate. Short runtime before failure (vehicle running less than 3 minutes after starting). Warning lights clear on their own after 3 days.
When: Early in drive cycle; cleared within 3 days without service.
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Warning lights clear spontaneously; No diagnostic codes registered in system
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership cleared code as advised by Subaru internal memo. No repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru internal memo attributed issue to vehicle overheating, though customer reported no overheating. Dealership instructed to clear code and release vehicle. Subaru stated they are aware the issue sometimes occurs when cars overheat.
Adaptive cruise control failure to brake appropriately
Adaptive cruise-control system does not maintain claimed following distance and does not brake for stopped traffic ahead as expected. System fails to slow vehicle approaching stopped line of cars at traffic light.
When: During normal cruising toward traffic stopped at signal.
Symptoms owners cite: Fails to maintain 4-car distance advertised; Does not brake when approaching stopped vehicles; Driver forced to apply manual brake to avoid collision
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted; issue driven by design/calibration concern.
Transmission slip to neutral without warning
Vehicle shifts into neutral without driver input during low-speed driving or at intersections. No warning lights or alarms. Loss of power to accelerate. Requires manual shift to Park then Drive to restore drive.
When: Five occurrences over two years; low-speed or intersection conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: No ability to accelerate; No warning lights or audible alarm; Requires manual Park-to-Drive shift to restore function; Safety hazard in intersection setting
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to duplicate issue; no repair performed.
Acceleration hesitation followed by power surge
Long hesitation at standstill (after stop sign) followed by sudden surge of power. Occurred on two separate occasions; did not reproduce during test drives by salesman or service manager.
When: After stop sign; early in ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Long delay before acceleration response; Sudden surge of power follows hesitation; Non-repeatable during dealer test drives
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle returned to dealer without diagnosis or repair.
Unexplained vehicle lurch forward at low speed
Vehicle surges forward without pedal input while parking or stationary. Multiple incidents with same family drivers, one resulting in collision with three parked vehicles.
When: While parking; recurring with multiple drivers.
Symptoms owners cite: Forward lurch with no gas pedal involvement; Occurs at low speed in parking scenario; Significant force in at least one occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Collision with three vehicles resulted; no repair details provided.
Brake pedal depression with simultaneous independent acceleration
While depressing brake pedal and vehicle at full stop (red light, on flat or sloped ground), vehicle suddenly lurches forward several feet with force resembling rear-end collision. Occurs occasionally since purchase.
When: At full stop on flat and sloped surfaces; recurring since January 2016 purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden lurch forward while foot on brake; Force of surge simulates rear-end impact; Occurs with AC on and off; At complete stops (red lights)
Highway acceleration without control
While driving at highway speed (70–75 mph), vehicle suddenly and independently accelerates much faster. Brake response delayed or ineffective for extended period (minute or longer). Driver forced to swerve around traffic to avoid collision.
When: Highway speeds in rain conditions; during normal cruising.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden uncontrolled acceleration at highway speed; Brake ineffective or delayed for extended time; Dangerous evasive maneuvers required
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2016 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2016 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 4,500 and 35,000 miles, with the median around 9,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,500; a quarter make it past 35,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.